STAELLA - Music Visualizer for iOS

STAELLA - Music Visualizer, from monocro, is a real-time audio-visual app that turns audio into layered visual performances on iPhone and iPad. It renders visuals that react to on-device inputs and AUv3 sources while offering deep customization and video export. The app bundles theme templates, shape libraries, screen effects and controller support, plus direct video export. VJs, performers, and social creators gain a portable tool for on-the-spot music-driven visuals and short-form clips.

STAELLA expands visual options through quantified building blocks: the app includes more than 35 unique visual themes, over 120 shapes, and 10 screen effects that can be layered to produce billions of combinations. Users can tune backgrounds, wallpapers, and color palettes (RGB, hue, contrast) to craft distinct looks. This combination lets creators explore iterative visual design rather than relying on a single static output.

What creative variety does STAELLA offer?

What audio inputs and controllers does it accept?

The tool accepts common local audio file types such as mp3, m4a, and flac, and it can host AUv3 audio plugins. It supports microphone and line-in capture and advertises low-latency microphone input suitable for live performance. External control comes via MIDI controllers, including BLE MIDI, plus gamepad input (D-pad, sticks, buttons) and iPad Magic Keyboard shortcuts for hands-on manipulation.

How does export and recording handle high-resolution visuals?

STAELLA provides two capture modes: a live "Recording" mode that captures interactive sessions, and an "Export" mode that produces a stable, hands-off render. The application supports high-resolution video export up to 4K and can save rendered clips directly to the camera roll, enabling no-edit music video creation from the device for social sharing or archival use.

Is STAELLA better for beginners or experienced performers?

The design balances depth with approachable entry points: it advertises deep customization without requiring professional editing skills, so novices can use presets while more experienced VJs connect controllers for performance nuance. A visual-only simulation mode offers passive playback when no audio source is available. Time-synced lyric display exists, but it depends on supported lyric databases, which affects what metadata appears during shows.

Strong fit for creators who need portable, on-device visual generation

STAELLA is a capable choice for performers and social creators who want immediate, on-device visual accompaniment to local or live audio; its design supports exploratory layering and real-time control. One important limitation is that it cannot access DRM-protected streaming tracks, so workflows tied to protected services require offline or alternative audio sources. For portable visual experimentation, it rewards hands-on exploration.